Go Security Audit

Purpose

Comprehensive security audit for Go codebases covering Go-specific vulnerabilities, common pitfalls, and security best practices.

Focus Areas

• SQL Injection: String formatting in database queries
• Command Injection: os/exec with user input
• Path Traversal: File operations with user paths
• Race Conditions: Concurrent access without synchronization
• Error Handling: Ignored errors, panic recovery
• Crypto Issues: Weak random, improper key handling

Go-Specific Vulnerabilities

SQL Injection

// VULNERABLE - string formatting
query := fmt.Sprintf("SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = %s", userInput)
db.Query(query)

// SECURE - parameterized query
db.Query("SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = ?", userInput)
// Or with sqlx:
db.Get(&user, "SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = $1", userInput)

Command Injection

// VULNERABLE - shell expansion
cmd := exec.Command("sh", "-c", "ls " + userInput)

// SECURE - no shell, array arguments
cmd := exec.Command("ls", userInput)  // userInput as single arg

Path Traversal

// VULNERABLE - user controls path
path := filepath.Join("/uploads", userInput)
// userInput = "../../../etc/passwd"

// SECURE - validate path stays in directory
path := filepath.Join("/uploads", filepath.Base(userInput))
// Or check after resolution:
absPath, _ := filepath.Abs(path)
if !strings.HasPrefix(absPath, "/uploads/") {
    return ErrInvalidPath
}

Race Conditions

// VULNERABLE - race on shared state
var balance int64
func withdraw(amount int64) bool {
    if balance >= amount {  // TOCTOU race
        balance -= amount
        return true
    }
    return false
}

// SECURE - use mutex or atomic
var mu sync.Mutex
func withdraw(amount int64) bool {
    mu.Lock()
    defer mu.Unlock()
    if balance >= amount {
        balance -= amount
        return true
    }
    return false
}

Error Handling

// VULNERABLE - ignored error
data, _ := ioutil.ReadFile(path)  // Error ignored!

// VULNERABLE - panic in HTTP handler (DoS)
func handler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
    panic("oops")  // Kills entire server
}

// SECURE - handle errors
data, err := ioutil.ReadFile(path)
if err != nil {
    return fmt.Errorf("read config: %w", err)
}

Weak Random

// VULNERABLE - math/rand is predictable
import "math/rand"
token := rand.Int63()

// SECURE - crypto/rand for security
import "crypto/rand"
var token [32]byte
rand.Read(token[:])

Output Format

findings:
  - title: "SQL Injection via fmt.Sprintf"
    severity: critical
    attack_scenario: "Attacker injects SQL through userInput parameter"
    preconditions: "None"
    reachability: public
    impact: "Database compromise"
    confidence: high
    cwe_id: "CWE-89"
    affected_assets:
      - "pkg/db/users.go:45"
    taint_path: "r.URL.Query().Get('id') -> fmt.Sprintf() -> db.Query()"

Dangerous Functions to Audit

Database

db.Query(fmt.Sprintf(...))
db.Exec(string + variable)
db.Raw(userInput)

OS/Exec

exec.Command("sh", "-c", ...)
exec.Command(userInput, ...)
os.StartProcess with user args

File Operations

os.Open(userPath)
ioutil.ReadFile(userPath)
http.ServeFile without path validation

Crypto

math/rand for tokens
md5.Sum for passwords
des.NewCipher (weak)
cipher.NewCBCDecrypter without MAC

HTTP

http.Get(userURL) // SSRF
http.ListenAndServe with no TLS
ResponseWriter.Write without Content-Type

Severity Guidelines

Go Security Tools

# Static analysis
gosec ./...
staticcheck ./...
go vet ./...

# Race detection
go test -race ./...

# Dependency vulnerabilities
govulncheck ./...

KYCo Integration

Register findings and import scanner results using kyco CLI:

1. Check/Select Active Project

kyco project list
kyco project select PROJECT_ID

2. Import gosec/semgrep Results

# Generate SARIF from gosec
gosec -fmt sarif -out gosec-results.sarif ./...

# Import into KYCo
kyco finding import gosec-results.sarif --project PROJECT_ID

# Or import semgrep results
semgrep --config auto --sarif -o semgrep.sarif .
kyco finding import semgrep.sarif --project PROJECT_ID

3. Register Manual Findings

kyco finding create \
  --title "SQL Injection via fmt.Sprintf" \
  --project PROJECT_ID \
  --severity critical \
  --cwe CWE-89 \
  --attack-scenario "Attacker injects SQL through userInput parameter" \
  --assets "pkg/db/users.go:45"

4. View Findings

kyco finding list --project PROJECT_ID
kyco gui  # Opens Kanban board